D&D 5E How does the Reincarnation spell actually work in practice?

[lowkey13]

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[Jefe Bergenstein]

Counter-objection: if a problem is illustrated by way of concrete example, it's unsound to assume that that example is the ONLY way the issue could have arisen. I happened to choose a PC with homogenous stats, partly to illustrate multiple issues at once.

Counter, counter example - you're really trying to borrow trouble on this. If you cant remember which feat you got first (unlikely), pick one. Same with the language and skill. 5E isnt super OCD like 3E was, and it's pretty easy to do a ruling on the fly. Hell, this reincarnate doesnt even have animals on its list - I mean, is it even the reincarnate spell if you cant come back as a honey badger?

There are more interesting questions. Like it forms an "adult" body. If you were an old human is your new tiefling body old? What if the person killed was a child. Will the campaign detour into a recreation of the movie Big as they use their newfound ability to get into R rated movies and buy beer?

Since you get a new body, what do you do with your old corpse? Animate it? Eat it? Stuff and mount it? Can you be raised from it? I want to have a scenario where someone agrees to be killed, reincarnated to go on a suicide mission, then they raise them from their safely stored original corpse as a method of extraction!

 

[lowkey13]

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[Mouseferatu]

I want to have a scenario where someone agrees to be killed, reincarnated to go on a suicide mission, then they raise them from their safely stored original corpse as a method of extraction!

While I can come up with all sorts of justifications for this not working, it's... kind of brilliant. I may have to steal this and do something with it.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

Still, what PC in their right mind willingly dies? It can't be pleasant.

Death by Snu Snu? The spirit was willing, but the flesh was spongy and bruised...

 

[NotActuallyTim]

IStill, what PC in their right mind willingly dies? It can't be pleasant.

Given the complex issue of defining mental health, can you define what a 'right mind' is in the first place?

 

[lowkey13]

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[NotActuallyTim]

While the exact permutations may defy easy classification, I would say that "not in their right mind" would include that category of individuals who repeatedly kill themselves with the expectation that they will be reincarnated each time into a random form, such that they can "max out" their abilities to the satisfaction of some unseen and unknowable higher power.

I can't take that seriously, it just sounds like you have a bias against suicide. Clearly, you aren't cut out for the adventuring business.

 

[lowkey13]

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[MostlyDm]

Since you get a new body, what do you do with your old corpse? Animate it? Eat it? Stuff and mount it? Can you be raised from it? I want to have a scenario where someone agrees to be killed, reincarnated to go on a suicide mission, then they raise them from their safely stored original corpse as a method of extraction!

That is awesome.

The mission goes deep into corrupted lands where even the air is toxic, and spending more than a day or two in it condemns you to eventual agonizing death from tumors and internal rot.

Ideally the pcs go in somewhat blind. Promise of riches or some desirable reward.

First, the employer kills you. Then you're reincarnated and sent on this horrific suicide mission where your new body begins warping and decaying shortly after entering the mission area.

On success, they resurrect the original bodies.

For added fun, unbeknownst to the players, the reincarnated bodies continue to live in this agony, believing that they've been duped and were never raised... or just furious that they did not cease to exist when the resurrections occurred. They set out for revenge on the employer/resurrected PCs as their dying goal, gaining corruption powers and becoming NPC villains with an admittedly short shelf life.